Matthew Stott, 21, had to be restrained by the City goalkeeper Joe Hart and was arrested following Robin van Persie's late winner at the Etihad Stadium.

He was subsequently charged with pitch encroachment, while a further eight people were charged for offences including for a racially aggravated public order offence, breach of football banning orders and other public offences – including being drunk and disorderly.

City have revoked Stott's season ticket and will ban him for life if he is found guilty of the charge.

Speaking through his solicitor, Stott confessed his guilt – and said sorry to the Manchester United defender.

The landscape gardener, from Knutsford in Cheshire, said: "I would like to apologise to all those affected by my actions, particularly Mr Ferdinand and the other players. I am extremely ashamed of my actions. I have let myself down, my family down, my fellow fans down and Manchester City Football Club.

"I intend to write personally to Mr Ferdinand to express my extreme regret and apologies and also apologise to Manchester United and their fans. I would like to thank Joe Hart for his actions when I came on the pitch.

"I have been a fan of Manchester City all my life and I have been a season ticket holder for three years and I attend the games with my father. I have had the same seat in the section next to the away fans for those three years."